DE102021116266A1 - Attachment assembly and video laryngoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

An attachment assembly (14) for a camera arm (20) of a video laryngoscope (12) has a spatula (26) and a protective cap (28), the spatula (26) having a base body (34) with a gripping end (G) and a handle end (G) opposite the patient end (P) and a channel (36) formed in the base body (34) for receiving the camera arm (20), the channel (36) both towards the handle end (G) and towards the patient end (P) is open towards it, wherein the protective cap (28) is a component separate from the spatula (26), can be inserted into the channel (36) and has an at least partially transparent protective section (44), wherein the protective cap (28) is designed such that a tip of the camera arm (20) of the video laryngoscope (12) can engage in the protective section (44) and is covered by the protective section (44). A video laryngoscope system (10) is also shown.

Description

The invention relates to an attachment assembly for a camera arm of a video laryngoscope and a video laryngoscope system with a video laryngoscope with a camera arm.

Video laryngoscopes with a camera arm are known. With such video laryngoscopes, spatulas for laryngoscopy are placed on the camera arm in order to protect the camera of the camera arm and also the camera arm itself from contamination during laryngoscopy. This reduces the effort required to clean the camera arm and thus the entire video laryngoscope. The blades are replaced after each patient examination and, in the case of reusable blades, sterilized or, in the case of single-use blades, discarded.

For this purpose, disposable spatulas are known which are made in one piece and have a channel into which the camera arm is inserted. The channel is closed on the patient side, so that the camera and the camera arm are completely encapsulated by the spatula on the patient side. The field of view of the camera must therefore pass through the spatula at the end of the channel on the patient side, which means that strict conditions are imposed on the material properties of the spatula. In particular, a spatula must be made of transparent material. This leads to reduced flexibility in the manufacture of single-use spatulas, in which case in particular no single-use spatulas can be manufactured from recycled material since recycled material does not have the necessary optical properties.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a video laryngoscope system and an attachment assembly for a video laryngoscope in which the material of the spatula has to meet lower requirements, in particular optical requirements.

The object is achieved by an attachment assembly for a camera arm of a video laryngoscope with a spatula and a protective cap. The spatula includes a body having a handle end and a patient end opposite the handle end, and a channel formed in the body for receiving the camera arm, the channel opening toward both the handle end and the patient end. The protective cap is a component separate from the spatula, can be inserted into the channel and has an at least partially transparent protective section, the protective cap being designed so that a tip of the camera arm of the video laryngoscope can engage in the protective section and is covered by the protective section.

As a separate component, the protective cap can be moved in particular relative to the base body.

In particular, the field of view of the camera at the tip of the camera arm passes through the protection section and not through the main body when the tip of the camera arm engages the protection section.

The protective cap that is separate from the spatula ensures that the spatula no longer has to cover the camera arm and in particular the camera at the tip of the camera arm, so that the spatula itself can meet lower material requirements, in particular the spatula no longer has to be transparent.

In addition, it was recognized that the channel at the end on the patient side does not have to be completely sealed in order to adequately protect the camera arm from contamination.

The body can have a Macintosh, Miller, Dörges or McCoy shape. For example, the spatula consists entirely of the base body.

The protection section can also be completely transparent.

In one embodiment, the protective cap is arranged in the area of the patient-side end of the channel when the attachment assembly is in use, in particular the protective cap extends at least partially through the patient-side opening of the channel. This ensures that the protective cap protects the camera arm and that the camera's field of view is as intended.

For example, the protective cap is arranged within the channel in the initial state of the attachment assembly and has a fastening section which positions the protective cap in relation to the base body in an initial position, in particular clamps the protective cap in the channel.

The positioning is carried out at the factory, for example, and in particular can be released, for example by the camera arm.

The factory positioning of the protective cap in the initial state simplifies use by the user. At the same time, it ensures that the protective cap sits correctly on the camera arm, since the user will insert the camera arm further into the channel than the starting position.

The starting position can be between the handle-side opening and the patient-side opening of the channel and/or different from the position of the protective cap in use.

In one embodiment of the invention, the fastening section has at least two, in particular four wings, which extend from opposite sides of the protective section, the at least two wings bearing against corresponding channel walls of the channel and/or the wings extending further outwards than the protection section. The protection cap is easily positioned in the canal by the wings.

In particular, the wings are elastic, so that they can be prestressed against the channel walls in the initial position.

Outward can be understood as radially outward with respect to a centerline of the receptacle or channel.

To precisely determine the position of the protective cap and thus the field of view of the camera, at least one stop can be provided in the channel at its patient-side end, against which the protective cap, in particular the protective section, rests when in use.

In one embodiment, the protective section has a transparent front pane and at least two, in particular four, walls, the walls extending from the front pane and forming a receptacle for the tip of the camera arm, in particular the walls running parallel and/or the front pane being inclined placed on the walls. The recording reliably positions the tip of the camera arm.

The front pane can completely close the recording on the patient side.

For example, the wings extend from the walls, in particular on the side of the walls facing away from the front pane.

In order to produce the spatula in a simple and/or environmentally friendly manner, the spatula can be made from a non-transparent material and/or from an at least predominantly, in particular completely, recycled material.

In one embodiment, the patient-side opening of the channel is arranged between the handle end and the patient end of the base body, particularly in the middle third between the handle end and the patient end, whereby the spatula is thin at the patient end to reduce the risk of injury.

For example, the main body has a projection between the patient end and the end of the channel.

For reliable protection of the camera arm, the channel can be closed along its circumference, in particular over the entire length of the channel.

The cross section of the channel can decrease from the opening of the channel on the handle side to the opening of the channel on the patient side, in particular the height of the cross section can decrease, which makes it easier to insert the camera arm into the channel.

In one embodiment, the base body has a width in the direction transverse to the direction of insertion, with the channel extending over only part of the width, in particular equal to or less than half the width. In this way, a classic visual examination, i.e. without camera support, is made possible.

For cost-effective production, the base body and/or the protective cap can be made in one piece.

For example, the base body and/or the protective cap are each an injection molded part.

The object is also achieved by a video laryngoscope system with a video laryngoscope that has a camera arm and an attachment assembly for the camera arm as described above.

The features and benefits described for the attachment assembly apply equally to the video laryngoscope system and vice versa.

For example, the camera arm has a tip with a camera, with the tip engaging in the protective cap, in particular the receptacle of the protective cap, when in use, and the camera arm extending through the channel. In this way, both the camera and the camera arm are adequately protected against contamination.

In particular, the field of view of the camera runs through the front pane in the direction of the end of the base body on the patient side.

For example, the camera arm holds both the spatula and the protective cap within the spatula.

In one embodiment, the video laryngoscope system is designed in such a way that the camera arm takes the protective cap with it when the camera arm is inserted into the channel of the spatula from the starting position and pushes it towards the patient-side opening of the channel until the use state is reached, making it extremely easy to use the spatula.

In one embodiment, the video laryngoscope system has a dispenser for the protective cap that is separate from the camera arm and the spatula, the dispenser having a housing with a dispensing opening, and the protective cap being provided inside the housing in the region of the dispensing opening. In this way, the protective caps can be provided separately from the spatula.

• 1: ein erfindungsgemäßes Videolaryngoskopsystem mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufsatzbaugruppe in perspektivische Ansicht,
• 2, 3, 4: einen Spatel der erfindungsgemäßen Aufsatzbaugruppe gemäß 1 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht, einer Vorderansicht bzw. einer Schnittansicht,
• 5, 6, 7: eine Schutzkappe der erfindungsgemäßen Aufsatzbaugruppe gemäß 1 in einer perspektivischen Ansicht, einer Vorderansicht bzw. in einer Schnittansicht,
• 8: die erfindungsgemäße Aufsatzbaugruppe gemäß 1 im Schnitt im Ausgangszustand, und
• 9, 10: die Aufsatzbaugruppe gemäß 8, in die der Kameraarm des Videolaryngoskops eingeführt wird, im Ausgangszustand bzw. im Benutzungszustand.

Further advantages and features of the invention result from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made. In the drawings show:

• 1 : a video laryngoscope system according to the invention with an attachment assembly according to the invention in a perspective view,
• 2 , 3 , 4 : a spatula of the attachment assembly according to the invention 1 in a perspective view, a front view or a sectional view,
• 5 , 6 , 7 : a protective cap according to the attachment assembly according to the invention 1 in a perspective view, a front view or in a sectional view,
• 8th : according to the attachment assembly according to the invention 1 on average in the initial state, and
• 9 , 10 : the top assembly according to 8th , into which the camera arm of the video laryngoscope is inserted, in the initial state or in the state of use.

1 shows a video laryngoscope system 10 with a video laryngoscope 12, an attachment assembly 14 and an optional dispenser 16.

The video laryngoscope 12 has a handle 18 and a camera arm 20 extending therefrom, at the tip of which remote from the handle 18 a camera 22 is arranged.

In addition, a screen 24 can be provided on the handle 18 which reproduces the image recorded by the camera 22 .

The attachment assembly 14 includes a spatula 26 and a protective cap 28 ( 5 ) for the camera 22, with the protective cap 28 being attached to the camera arm 20.

The optional dispenser 16 is a dispenser for protective caps 28 and has a housing 30 in which a dispensing opening 32 is formed.

In the 2 , 3 , 4 the spatula 26 of the attachment assembly 14 is shown in a perspective view, in a front view of the patient-side end P of the spatula 26 and in a sectional view.

The spatula 26 has a base body 34, in particular it consists of the base body 34. For example, the spatula 26 is a disposable product, ie a disposable spatula.

The base body 34 is designed in one piece, for example as an injection molded part. The material of the base body 34 is non-transparent and, for example, predominantly, in particular completely, recycled.

The body 34 has a handle end G that faces the handle 18 of the video laryngoscope 12 and a patient end that is opposite the handle end G, i.e., away from the handle 18, and faces or is inserted into the patient.

In addition, the base body 34 has an underside U which rests against the patient, in particular his tongue, during the examination. The opposite side of the base body 34 represents the top O.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the base body 34 has a Macintosh form, i. That is, the bottom U of the body 34 has a curvature. Of course, the base body 34 can also have a different shape, such as a Miller shape, Dörges shape or McCoy shape.

The insertion direction R extends from the end of the handle G to the end P of the patient. In the horizontal direction transverse to the direction of insertion R, the spatula 26 has a width B ( 3 ).

A channel 36 for the camera arm 20 is formed in the base body 34 . The channel 36 extends from the handle end G on the top O of the blade 26 to the patient end P out.

For example, the channel 36 ends in the middle third between the handle end G and the patient end P. The remaining part of the main body 34 between Between the end of the channel 36 and the patient end P is thus a projection 38 or tongue.

In the transverse direction, it extends over half the width B or less of the base body 34, in particular asymmetrically and/or starting from one side.

The channel 36 is delimited along its circumference by channel walls which are part of the base body 34 . For example, the channel 36 is completely closed along its circumference. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the channel 36 is completely closed along its circumference over its entire length in the direction of insertion R.

At its end facing the patient end P, the channel 36 has a first opening, referred to as the handle-side opening 40, and towards the patient end P, a second opening, referred to as the patient-side opening 42. In particular, the handle-side opening 40 and the patient-side opening 42 are the only openings of the channel 36.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the opening 42 on the patient side is smaller than the opening 40 on the handle side. The cross section of the channel 36 thus decreases, in particular continuously, from the opening 40 on the handle side toward the opening 42 on the patient side.

To change the cross section, the transverse dimension of the channel 36 can remain the same and only the height of the cross section of the channel 36, i. H. the expansion perpendicular to the transverse direction and perpendicular to the direction of insertion R, reduce.

The channel 36 is in particular not closed by the opening 42 on the patient side, as is usual in the prior art, for example by means of a disc.

However, the cross section of the channel 36 is selected such that the camera arm 20 can be inserted into the channel 36 up to the opening 42 on the patient side.

In the 5 , 6 and 7 the protective cap 28 is shown in a perspective view, in a front view, ie on the patient-side end, and in a sectional view.

The protective cap 28 is a component that is separate from the spatula 26 and can also be designed in one piece and/or as an injection molded part. The material of the protective cap 28 is transparent, in particular a transparent plastic.

The protective cap 28 has a protective section 44 and a fastening section 46, with the fastening section 46 adjoining the protective section 44 on the handle side in the exemplary embodiment shown.

The protective section 44 has a transparent front pane 48 which, in particular, has a shape complementary to the opening 42 of the channel 36 on the patient side.

Four walls 50 protrude from the front pane 48 towards the end of the handle, which walls are in particular parallel to one another.

However, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the walls 50 and the front pane 48 do not enclose a right angle, so that the front pane 48 is arranged at an angle to the walls 50 . It is also conceivable that the front pane 48 is perpendicular to the walls 50 .

The walls 50 together with the front pane 48 form a receptacle 52 for the tip of the camera arm 20. The receptacle 52 is completely closed on the patient side, in particular by the front pane 48.

The fastening section 46 adjoins the walls 50 on the handle side.

The attachment section 46 has at least one attachment means 54 with the aid of which the protective cap 28 can be positioned in the channel 36 .

In the illustrated embodiment, the fastening means 54 are four wings 56, one wing 56 extending from one of the walls 50 to the handle end G and at the same time outwards.

Alternatively or additionally, break-off webs, a thin plastic skin, adhesive, in particular a drop of adhesive, and/or a foil can be used as fastening means 54 .

Specifically, the wings 56 extend further outwardly with respect to a centerline of the receptacle 52 and/or further outwardly than the guard portion 44.

The wings 56 are elastic so that they can be moved inwards.

In 8th the attachment module 14 is shown in an initial state. The protective cap 28 is inserted in the channel 36 in this initial state. The protective cap 28 is in a starting position between the griffseiti Gen opening 40 and the patient-side opening 42 is located. In particular, no part of the protective cap 28 extends through the patient-side opening 42 in the starting position.

The protective cap 28 is positioned in the initial position by the fastening means 54, ie the wings 56 in the exemplary embodiment shown.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, this occurs in that the vanes 56 bear against the channel walls of the channel 36 and are pretensioned against the channel walls due to their elasticity. The protective cap 28 is thus clamped in its initial position and secured against falling out.

Alternatively or additionally, breakable webs, a thin plastic skin, adhesive, in particular a drop of adhesive, and/or a film can hold the protective cap 28 in the starting position.

The positioning in the starting position can be solved in any case, i. that is, the protective cap 28 can be moved through normal, conscious use.

For example, the protective cap 28 and the spatula 26 are manufactured separately and the protective cap 28 is then positioned in the channel 36 of the spatula 26 in the starting position at the factory. The initial condition thus also corresponds to the sales condition.

To use the video laryngoscope system 10, the user places an attachment assembly 14 on the video laryngoscope 12 in the initial state. More specifically, he inserts the camera arm 20 into the channel 36 of the spatula 26.

The tip of the camera arm 20 then hits, as in 9 shown, on the protective cap 28 in its initial position. The tip of the camera arm 20 engages in the receptacle 52 , the camera arm 20 being guided into the receptacle 52 by the wings 56 .

The user then inserts the camera arm 20 even further into the channel 36, releasing the positioning of the protective cap 28 and moving the protective cap 28 from its initial position relative to the base body 34 towards the patient-side opening 42 of the channel 36.

In other words, the camera arm 20 takes the protective cap 28 with it from its starting position toward the opening 42 on the patient side.

In 10 shows the state of use in which the camera arm 20 has been inserted completely, ie for the length required for proper use, into the channel 36 .

In this state of use, the protective cap 28 is arranged in the region of the patient-side end of the channel 36 and extends at least partially through the patient-side opening 42 in the exemplary embodiment shown.

The camera arm 20 holds both the spatula 26 and the protective cap 28.

It is easy to see that the front pane 48 protrudes through the opening 42 on the patient side. To determine the state of use, one or more stops 58 can be provided in the area of the patient-side end of the channel 36, which extend into the channel 36 and against which the protective cap 28 rests, for example the walls 50 of the protective cap 28 rest.

When in use, the camera 22 is thus accommodated in the receptacle 52 of the protective cap 28 and is protected from contamination by this. The rest of the camera arm 20 is protected from contamination by the base body 34 .

When in use, the field of view of the camera 22 runs through the front pane 48 in the direction of the patient end P.

In this way, the necessary protection of the camera 22 is guaranteed without impairing the quality of the recording. At the same time, the material of the spatula 26 can be selected independently of the material of the protective cap 28, which reduces the requirements for the material properties of the spatula. As a result, non-transparent and recycled materials can also be used for the spatula 26, which contributes to environmental protection.

After the examination, the camera arm 20 is removed from the spatula 26, more specifically the channel 36. The protective cap 28 can remain in the channel 36 or be pulled out together with the camera arm 20 . In the former case one obtains a simpler use of the spatula 26, in the latter case it is possible to dispose of the spatula 26 and the protective cap 28 separately from one another, which allows improved recycling.

Instead of positioning the protective cap 28 in the channel 36 in an initial state, it is conceivable in an alternative embodiment that the channel 36 is initially empty and the protective caps 28 are provided in the optional dispenser 16.

Before use, a protective cap 28 is then applied to the tip of the camera arm 20 by means of the dispenser 16 and the camera arm 20 together with the protective cap 28 is inserted into the channel 36 until the state of use is reached.

For this purpose, there are a large number of protective caps 28 in the housing 30 of the dispenser 16, which are arranged behind the dispensing opening 32 such that, for example, by inserting the camera arm 20 through the dispensing opening 32, a protective cap 28 is attached to the tip of the camera arm 20.

Alternatively, at least one protective cap 28 can protrude through the dispensing opening 32 so that the camera arm 20 can engage in it.

Claims (15)

Attachment assembly for a camera arm (20) of a video laryngoscope (12) with a spatula (26) and a protective cap (28), the spatula (26) having a body (34) with a handle end (G) and a patient end (P) opposite the handle end (G) and a channel (36) formed in the body (34) for receiving the camera arm (20). , wherein the channel (36) is open towards both the handle end (G) and the patient end (P), wherein the protective cap (28) is a component separate from the spatula (26), can be inserted into the channel (36) and has an at least partially transparent protective section (44), the protective cap (28) being designed so that a tip of the camera arm (20) of the video laryngoscope (12) can engage in the protective section (44) and is covered by the protective section (44). attachment assembly claim 1 , characterized in that the protective cap (28) when the attachment assembly (14) is in use is arranged in the region of the patient-side end of the channel (36), in particular it extends at least partially through the patient-side opening (42) of the channel (36). attachment assembly claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the protective cap (28) is arranged within the channel (36) in the initial state of the attachment assembly (14) and has a fastening section (46) which positions the protective cap (28) relative to the base body (34) in an initial position, in particular the protective cap (28) is jammed in the channel (36). attachment assembly claim 3 , characterized in that the fastening section (46) has at least two, in particular four, wings (56) which extend from opposite sides of the protective section (44), the at least two wings (56) being attached to corresponding channel walls of the channel (36) and/or wherein the wings (56) extend further outwards than the protective section (44). Attachment assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one stop (58) is provided in the channel (36) at its patient-side end, against which the protective cap (28), in particular the protective section (44), rests when in use. Attachment assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective section (44) has a transparent front pane (48) and at least two, in particular four, walls (50), the walls (50) extending from the front pane (48) and form a receptacle (52) for the tip of the camera arm (20), in particular with the walls (50) running parallel and/or the front pane (48) being arranged at an angle to the walls (50). Attachment assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spatula (26) is made from a non-transparent material and/or from an at least predominantly, in particular completely, recycled material. Attachment assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the patient-side opening (42) of the channel (36) is arranged between the handle end (G) and the patient end (P) of the base body (34), in particular in the middle third between the handle end ( G) and the patient end (P). Attachment assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel (36) is closed along its circumference, in particular over the entire length of the channel (36), and/or that the cross section of the channel (36) differs from the opening ( 40) decreases towards the opening (42) of the channel (36) on the patient side, in particular the height of the cross section decreases. Attachment assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (34) has a width (B) in the direction transverse to the direction of insertion (R), the channel (36) only extending over part of the width (B), in particular equal to or extends less than half of the width (B). Attachment assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (34) is made in one piece and/or that the protective cap (28) is made in one piece. A video laryngoscope system comprising a video laryngoscope (12) having a camera arm (20) and a camera arm attachment assembly (14) as claimed in any preceding claim. video laryngoscope system claim 12 , characterized in that the camera arm (20) has a tip with a camera (22), the tip engaging in the protective cap (28), in particular the receptacle (52) of the protective cap (28), and the camera arm (20 ) extends through the channel (36). video laryngoscope system claim 12 or 13 , characterized in that the video laryngoscope system (10) is designed in such a way that the camera arm (20) takes the protective cap (28) with it when the camera arm (20) is inserted into the channel (36) of the spatula (26) from the starting position and to the patient-side Opening (42) of the channel (36) slides until the use condition is reached. video laryngoscope system Claim 13 , characterized in that the video laryngoscope system (10) has a camera arm (20) and spatula (26) separate dispenser (16) for the protective cap (28), which has a housing (30) with a dispensing opening (32), wherein the protective cap (28) is provided within the housing (30) in the region of the dispensing opening (32).

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